Community Impacts, Annual Reports, & Success Stories

Hear our stories and dig into the impact numbers.

The mission of Pathway Lending is to provide lending solutions and educational services that support the development, growth, and preservation of underserved small businesses, affordable housing, and sustainable communities.

We are financing businesses and strengthening communities. See how we are working toward our mission every day by reading our annual reports and interviews with just a few of our clients below.

Pathway Lending Annual Reports

Since 1999, we’ve aligned capital and business advisory services to help make opportunities reality for hundreds of clients. We invite you to read our annual reports to learn more about the work we’re doing in Tennessee and Alabama:

2016 Annual Report
2015 Annual Report
2014 Annual Report
2013 Annual Report
2012 Annual Report

Pathway Lending Client Success Stories:

Success Story: Collins & Co. Barber Shop

Experienced stylists make the cut as first-time business owners Longtime stylist Tabitha Parsley and master barber Robert Collins worked for years at the original location of Red’s Class Barbershop in Indianapolis. After relocating to Nashville to help run the second location, these young entrepreneurs dreamed of owning their own shop. “One day we looked at Read more

Success Story: JMK Martial Arts & Fitness

New entrepreneur turns passion into family business “This all started because my dad stood up to a bully when he was 15,” says Charles Owens II, owner of JMK Martial Arts. “He stood his ground, but got handled pretty bad by an older, bigger guy. He swore he’d never let that happen again.” Owens’ dad Read more

Success Story: MeTime Drop-In Child Care

Female entrepreneur opens convenient daycare for local families Sara Bullock is no stranger to owning a business. She spent her childhood helping her mother run successful childcare services. “It was inspiring to me that she was able to make her own hours to be there for school functions,” says Bullock. “I saw the kind of Read more

Success Story: Knoxville Racquet Club

Serving up major energy savings with lighting upgrades at Knoxville Racquet Club The Knoxville Racquet Club, the largest tennis, swim and fitness facility in East Tennessee, opened its doors in 1961. Overlooking the city of Knoxville and the Smoky Mountains, the 32-acre campus features a large competitive swimming pool, a 1,500 square foot fitness area, Read more

Success Story: Livingston Logistic Corporation

Veteran entrepreneur is bringing high speed internet to rural Alabama “Internet isn’t a luxury – it’s a necessity for school work just about anything, especially in a rural area like Sylacauga and Talladega Springs,” says Livingston Logistic owner Bruce Livingston. “Out of 50 states, Alabama is 46th in internet service. But we’re hoping to change that.” Read more

Success Story: Christ Presbyterian Academy

Independent school and parish find the bright side of energy upgrades Founded in 1981, Christ Presbyterian Church has more than 2,500 members in the Nashville area and opened the doors of Christ Presbyterian Academy in 1985. The private school now has around 1,300 students and 200 staff members in its four schools spanning preschool to Read more

Success Story: Kiefer Manufacturing

Local family keeps doors open for largest private employer in Hancock County When the Mayor of Hancock County, Tennessee learned the largest private employer – Kiefer Manufacturing – was planning on shuttering their local factory, he turned to David Greene Jr. and his family to see if they could keep the business up and running. Read more

Clarence Howard, owner of River City Railroad and Pathway Lending success story

Success Story: River City Railroad in Memphis

Memphis small business helps put trolleys back on track downtown “My daddy started this company while he was working for the Tennessee Department Correctional work release program,” says River City Railroad owner Clarence Howard. “My father met an inmate who was making a lot of money as a railroad foreman. The two partnered to start Read more

Success Story: ESSTAR and Krista's Healthy on the Go

Success Story: ESSTAR & Krista’s Healthy On The Go

Two bouts of cancer lead entrepreneur to launch natural food distribution company Krista Anderson took inspiration from personal adversity when launching her business in early 2015. She harnessed what she learned during those daunting times — empathy and perseverance — and forged a more entrepreneurial life. A cancer diagnosis gave her three months to live and served as a wake-up call to change her definition Read more

Success Story: Albahealth

Rural manufacturer finds ‘sew’ many savings with energy efficiency upgrades Located in rural Rockwood, Tennessee, Albahealth is the largest manufacturer of “patient safety footwear” in the world. While those thick socks with the rubber pattern on the sole is their main product, they knit and dye a variety of disposable medical apparel, including compression sleeves Read more

Pathway Lending Success Story: Sugar Mamas Knoxville

Success Story: Sugar Mamas Bakery

Taking Her Home-Based Business to a Main Street Mainstay After years of frequenting the local farmers market, Hannah McConnell turned her lifelong passion for baking into a home-based business and opened a booth for “Sugar Mama’s” on Market Square. From there, McConnell sold baked goods at special events hosted by local craft breweries. Blame it Read more

Success Story: Fender Bender Repair Center

Putting an entrepreneur in the express lane to success Miguel “Mike” Saavedra’s passion for cars comes from a childhood spent “wrenching” with his stepdad in the garage. Growing up in Los Angeles, Saavedra faced the misconception that as a Latino, he’d never rise above the station of laborer. “That was a problem for me,” says Read more

Power On Cycling: Pathway Lending success story

Success Story: Power On Cycling

Powering a small business to help disabled veterans A lifelong cyclist, Mark Power built his first recumbent bike for his wife while stationed in Germany. The second was for himself so she wouldn’t feel self-conscious on their rides. This new hobby became a business and the veteran never looked back. “I had so much trouble Read more

Success Story: Sprocket Therapy Solutions

Occupational & Speech Therapists Double Their Impact on the Community When Nat Udwin and Barb Talbert moved to Nashville four years ago, the occupational clinic they envisioned didn’t exist. “My parents were small business owners, my grandparents were small business owners,” says Udwin. “So I’ve always had the mindset that if it doesn’t exist, you Read more

Success Story: Protomet

Flexible funding fuels innovation for Oak Ridge manufacturer Jeff Bohanan always wanted to be an entrepreneur, and used his years of engineering experience at Y-12 to start a consulting business. From there, Bohanan moved into component manufacturing after winning a contract with Mercedes Benz – to the tune of a million parts within five years. “It Read more

Crown College Energy Efficiency Project Success Story

Success Story: Crown College

Advancing a mission of stewardship by investing in energy efficiency The Crown College of the Bible is a private, nonprofit Christian college located in East Tennessee. Since opening its doors in 1991, the college has grown to an enrollment of more than 800 students in various fields of study through in their School of Ministry, Read more

New Inglewood Cleaners & Tailoring Success Story

Success Story: New Inglewood Cleaners and Tailoring

Seasoned entrepreneur buys local dry cleaning shop with help of business acquisition loan Kevin Robertson is by definition an entrepreneur: he’s an electrical engineer who co-founded a firm, he’s a singer and drummer with his own label, and he has a Master’s in education from Belmont and has taught for many years. Throughout his career, Read more

Success Story: Grandview Mountain Cottages

Pathway Lending helps entrepreneur expand cabins and offer glamping in East Tennessee Retired international business consultant Ilaeka Villa left Paris, France for the foothills of the Smokies in Rhea County, Tennessee. Together with her father, “Papa Phil,” she opened Grandview Mountain Cottages with two cottages and their Farm Porch Store, and has enjoyed welcoming visitors for Read more

Success Story: VanHooseCo

CDFI and bank partner and help manufacturer bring 165 jobs to rural Tennessee Entrepreneurs think big. They dream, plan, and execute strategies to build and sustain thriving businesses. Jeff VanHoose is one such entrepreneur. His business, VanHooseCo Precast Concrete, started small but scaled quickly following the 2008 Great Recession, as it added new divisions and Read more

Success Story: Maddi Mas

Athens lunch hotspot finds new owners with help of business acquisition loan Delanie and Joe Domzalski had always dreamed of moving to east Tennessee, finding some land, and owning their own business. When they moved to Athens, not only did they buy their dream house from Vickie and Jim Carr, but they also bought the Read more